Journalist Massacre Drama Bows at Busan Asian Project Market

The Asian Project Market, operating as part of the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents and Film Market, has introduced a compelling new cinematic exploration of political violence. Titled "Once Upon a Time in the Philippines," the debut feature from director E del Mundo examines the dark mechanisms of complicity through the eyes of a young bystander. The project draws direct inspiration from the infamous 2009 Maguindanao massacre, an event that deeply scarred the nation's political and social landscape.

Set within a fictionalized locale that strongly evokes the southern region of the Philippines, the plot centers on a 19-year-old woman named Sam. Working a mundane job at a local gas station, Sam inadvertently becomes entangled in the violent operations executed by a powerful political clan's private militia. Following the bloody events, she embarks on a desperate search for her missing boyfriend, who may have been an active participant in the slaughter. Through her journey, Sam discovers that numerous local institutions are inextricably bound to the same machinery of terror and impunity.

The historical backdrop of the film dates back to November 2009, when a civilian convoy carrying family members, lawyers, and journalists was intercepted by armed men in Maguindanao. The victims were traveling to file election-related paperwork when 58 people were brutally murdered. Among the dead were at least 32 journalists and media workers, making the incident the deadliest targeted attack on the press ever recorded in modern history. Producers emphasize that the tragedy continues to symbolize the enduring presence of private armies and political impunity.

Director E del Mundo grew up grappling with the psychological weight of an atrocity that she believes the Philippines has never fully confronted or resolved. In developing the film, she sought to move beyond the idea that massive historical crimes are committed by solitary villains. Instead, she focuses on how systemic violence is enabled by ordinary individuals who choose to obey, remain silent, or stop asking critical questions. This perspective transformed her filmmaking approach into a critical examination of societal structures and personal accountability within a patriarchal framework.

Described by its creator as a coming-of-age narrative swallowed by harsh political realities, the film utilizes the fictional character of Sam to navigate collective trauma. Producers Kyle Nieva and Gian Carlo Librojo of Screen Asia are steering the production alongside international partners, including France's Piano Sano Films and Norway's DUOfilm. Librojo, who also works as a broadcast journalist, notes that the project possesses profound personal significance, reminding audiences that the massacre is not a closed historical chapter but an ongoing reflection of power dynamics.

The project has built substantial momentum through its participation in major international industry labs and markets. It previously traveled through Cannes' Cinéfondation L'Atelier, the Venice Gap-Financing Market, and Locarno Open Doors, where it earned both a development award and a Sørfond grant. Additional backing came from the TorinoFilmLab and the Singapore International Festival, reflecting strong global interest in its artistic vision and unflinching political commentary.

Ultimately, "Once Upon a Time in the Philippines" strives to challenge viewers by reflecting on the internal boundaries of responsibility. By avoiding hollow spectacle in favor of intimate psychological framing, the filmmakers hope to provoke deep introspection. As the project gains visibility at Busan, it stands as a powerful reminder of the fragile nature of justice and the heavy price of silence in societies shaped by fear.